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The Korea Herald reported that the nation's biggest forklift producer, Daewoo Heavy Industries and Machinery, recorded sales increases every month since January, with 560 trucks sold last month. This compared with an average last year of 200 to 300 trucks a month.

Daewoo, which supplies more than 50 percent of the Korean forklift market, predicted that, if the trend continued, it would top its yearly sales target of WON317 billion (USD261 million) and could reach WON340 billion (USD280 million).

Daewoo's domestic sales of excavators increased by 50 percent in the first quarter of this year, and its plant was operating at close to 100 percent capacity, up from around 80 percent during the Asian economic downturn.

The nation's second largest forklift manufacturer, Clark Material Handling Asia, reported that its sales had increased by 20 percent.

Hyundai Heavy Industries Corporation had sold around 760 excavators by the end of May, up 27 percent on the same period last year. Hyundai also reported a 20 percent lift in sales of forklift trucks.

The sales lift has encouraged Hyundai to upgrade its yearly sales target for its heavy equipment and machinery sector from WON389 billion (USD320 million) to WON480 billion (USD395 million).

2. HYUNDAI LAUNCHES JOINT VENTURE FORKLIFT MANUFACTURER
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BEIJING, China
A joint venture between Korean and Chinese companies has established a new forklift manufacturer which expects to achieve sales of at least USD84 million a year.

The remaining 40 percent is held by the Chinese state-owned Beijing Jingcheng Machinery & Electronics Corp, an assets management company with interests in machinery tools, engineering and electric engines.

The joint venture would concentrate on producing hydraulic pressure grabs and forklifts, according to a Bernama Daily Malaysian News report.

It is expected to produce six of Hyundai's computer-controlled electro-mechanical hydraulic excavator unifiers, four of Hyundai's forklift products and Beijing Jingcheng's existing Jincheng Hanna forklifts.

Production is targeted at 5100 grabs and forklifts per year, translating to sales of about USD84.6 million.
Hyundai website http://www.hhi.co.kr
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3. KALMAR WINS ROUEN PORT CONTRACT
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ROUEN, France
Port Autonome de Rouen has ordered two Kalmar Nelcon ship-to-shore (STS) cranes after the company beat five other manufacturers for the tender.

Kalmar chief executive Christer Granskog said the order was proof of Nelcon's modular concept, where a basic design could be adapted to suit various applications. The design's availability also meant costs were driven down.

The Rouen cranes will operate at the Grand Couronne Moulineaux container terminal. They will be shipped to the terminal and erected quayside. The portal and upper structure (bridge girder) would be shipped in two pieces, Kalmar said in a statement. Once assembled, the upper structure would be lifted into place by a hoist mounted on the cranes' legs.

The order follows a four-crane order for terminals in Le Havre, France, in 1999. Port Autonome de Rouen representatives visited Le Havre to see the Nelcon machines operating before awarding the tender.

The Nelcon STS modular concept means railspan, outreach, hoisting height and electrical installation specifications can be accommodated without changing the design of the crane.

The Port Autonome de Rouen tender required a crane with a 39-metre outreach, 27-metre railspan, four-metre backreach, 32.5-metre hoisting height, 15-metre depth reach and a hoisting speed of 60 metres a minute for loaded containers and 120 metres a minute for empty containers.

More than 100 STS cranes have been built since production began in 1997. The modular design was developed in 2001 and two of the machines are currently being commissioned at Uniport/Morcon in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Kalmar website http://www.kalmarind.com
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4. SEVENTH GENERATION ELECTRIC TOYOTA FORKLIFT RELEASED
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ANCENIS, France
Toyota Industries Corporation (TIC) wants its seventh-generation battery electric forklift to be the platform for a European assault, in an effort to grow its market share from seven percent to 15 percent.

TIC executive vice-president Koichiro Noguchi said the new 7FBMF series, launched in France by Toyota Industrial Equipment Europe this month, was "exclusively designed for the European market". Nine models of the new 80-volt machine, from 1.6-tonnes to five-tonne capacities, were shown to dealers and the materials handling press.

The 7FBMF combines Toyota's AC-squared power and SAS active stability systems and features automatic fork levelling and active steering synchronisation, which reduces slippage by constantly re-aligning the steering.

Other features include active control rear stabilisers, active mast control systems and wet disk brakes. Toyota claims the AC controller and motor give up to 30 percent better lifting performance, and the 7FBMF reduces operating time by up to 25 percent. The compact AC motor allows the battery to be stowed under the floor, providing new freedom for cab designers.

TIC sold 70,000 forklifts worldwide in 2001 and materials handling accounts for 37 percent of its turnover. With the 7FBMF, Toyota - already a global leader - hopes to strengthen its European position further.

In an exclusive interview with Forkliftaction.com News, Mr Noguchi said the new forklifts would be manufactured on a new production line at Toyota's Ancenis factory, using mostly European components. Delivery would start in September.

Mr Noguchi said Toyota spent USD60 million a year on development over the past three years, 20 percent of which was on the 7FMBF series. Digital and virtual design techniques halved development time.

"We want to accelerate product lead times in this industry," Mr Noguchi said.

He said the integration of BT, which Toyota acquired in 2000, had been successful. "Today we are strong enough to meet our strategic goals."
Toyota Industries website http://www.toyota-industries.com
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With capacities from one tonne to 1.5 tonnes, the Mitsubishi RT series features a narrow chassis and compact dimensions, making it suitable for operation in confined spaces such as tight aisles, drive-in racking, block stacking and container stuffing.

Mitsubishi has opted for a fixed-wheelbase design to maximise stability and ensure a smooth ride. It features twin tilt cylinders, mounted high on the forklift to protect them from damage.

Design features for driver comfort include a low step and grab handles for access. Both the seat and driving column are fully adjustable. The electronics include programmable drive and lift performance.

The trucks are fitted with transistor-controlled motors in place of traditional contactor controls which are noisy and prone to failure. This delivers the added benefit of regenerative braking which improves energy efficiency and increasing the life of brake components, Mitsubishi said.
Mitsubishi website http://www.mitforklift.com
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6. FORKLIFT DRIVER JAILED FOR PHONE THEFT
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BATHGATE, United Kingdom
A forklift driver has been jailed for a year after admitting he was the inside man in the theft of mobile phones worth GBP900,000.

The Scotsman newspaper reported that Edward Morcombe, 27, from Fauldhouse, West Lothian, claimed he was not paid for his part in helping the thieves to hook up a trailer, loaded with 10,000 Motorola T180 mobile phones, to a lorry and drive it out of the company's Bathgate plant.

Mr Morecombe's part was to release the hydraulic hitch that secured the trailer containing the phones.

Former Bathgate yard man John Griffen was jailed for a year in March for his part in the theft, which occurred in June last year. He admitted receiving GBP2000 from the thieves for allowing a storage yard to be used to transfer the phones from the Motorola trailer to another truck after the theft.

The mobile phones have not been recovered.
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